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What are CO2 Extracts?
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containing CO2 extracts. |
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Oils extracted by the CO2 (carbon
dioxide) method are commonly called CO2 Extracts or CO2s
for short. In a nutshell, CO2 Extracts are extracted by pressurizing
carbon dioxide until it becomes a liquid. The liquid carbon dioxide
then acts as a solvent on the natural plant matter and the essential
oil content then dissolves into the liquid CO2. Afterwards, the
CO2 is brought back to natural pressurization, the CO2 evaporates
back into its gaseous state and what is left is the resulting oil.
CO2 extracts are often labeled as essential oils
as opposed to absolutes since no trace of a harmful solvent will
remain in the final product. CO2s have an advantage over essential
oils because none of the constituents of the oil are damaged by
heat.
CO2 extracts are usually thicker than their essential
oil counterparts and often smell closer to the aroma of the natural
herb. CO2 extracts have been said to contain additional constituents
than what is extracted from the same plant using steam distillation.
This would seem to make sense since CO2 extracts generally are thicker
oils and often seem to have a more rounded aroma.
AromaWeb's Business
Plaza provides a wonderful categorical directory of sellers
of CO2s and other aromatherapy products.
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